Cassytha

Osbeck in C. Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 1: 35. 175.

,

Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 22. 1754 (as "Cassyta").

Etymology: Greek kasytas, name for Cuscuta
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.
 TaxonIllustrator 
FNA03 P7 Cassytha Anemopsis Saururus pg 36.jpegAnemopsis californica
Saururus cernuus
Cassytha filiformis
John Myers
John Myers
John Myers

Vines, parasitic, with threadlike stems. Leaves reduced to minute scales, spirally arranged, glabrous or pubescent. Inflorescences spikes [panicles or racemes], rarely reduced to single flower. Flowers bisexual, sessile or shortly pedicellate, subtended by bract and 2 bracteoles; tepals persistent at apex of accrescent floral-tube that surrounds fruit, greenish white or whitish, outermost row similar to bracts, innermost row larger; stamens 9 (or 6), anthers 2-locular, anthers of outer 6 stamens introrse, of inner 3 extrorse; staminodes 3 (or 6); ovary globose. Drupe black, globose, enclosed in floral-tube, remnants of perianth apical.

Distribution

Tropical and subtropical regions, North America, mostly Australia, a few in Africa

Discussion

Species ca. 17 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

... more about "Cassytha"
whitish +  and greenish white +
Henk van der Werff +
Osbeck in C. Linnaeus +
deciduous +
Tropical and subtropical regions +, North America +, mostly Australia +  and a few in Africa +
globose +
Greek kasytas, name for Cuscuta +
pedicellate +  and sessile +
reddish;usually yellow;greenish or white +
petiolate +  and simple +
pubescent +  and glabrous +
reduced;minute +
globose +
Sp. Pl. +  and Gen. Pl. ed. +
thread-like +
capitate +  and discoid +
Cassytha +
Lauraceae +
persistent +
3 +  and 6 +
unequal +  and smaller +
deciduous +  and evergreen +
3 +  and 2 +